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Santa Fe Gold Mine

Producer in Mineral county in Nevada, United States with commodities Gold, Silver, Arsenic, Antimony, Lead, Zinc, Mercury, Thallium, Molybdenum, Copper, Barium-Barite, Tungsten
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Alteration
  9. Mineral occurrence model information
  10. Host and associated rocks
  11. Nearby scientific data
  12. Geologic structures
  13. Ore body information
  14. Controls for ore emplacement
  15. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  16. Mining district
  17. Land status
  18. Ownership information
  19. Production statistics
  20. Reserves and resources
  21. Workings at the site
  22. Links to other databases
  23. Bibliographic references
  24. General comments
  25. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10047580
MRDS ID M242955
Record type Site
Current site name Santa Fe Gold Mine
Related records 10310379

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -118.14345, 38.59436 (WGS84)
Elevation 1829

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Mineral(county)

Nevada(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Luning(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Walker Lake(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Walker Lake(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Fish Lake-Soda Spring Valleys(hydrologic unit)

Central Nevada Desert Basins(hydrologic accounting unit)

Central Nevada Desert Basins(hydrologic subregion)

Great Basin(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Bureau of Land Management(Bureau of Land Management NV)

Bureau of Land Management NV BLM(Type of land area)

BLM(Federal land areas administered by BLM)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Nevada Mineral

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Mount Diablo 009N 034E 36 Nevada

Comments on the location information

  • ON THE EAST FLANK OF TODD MOUNTAIN, IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE GABBS VALLEY RANGE. JUST SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 361, NE OF LUNING. . INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1972)

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Primary
Arsenic Critical Secondary
Antimony Critical Secondary
Lead Secondary
Zinc Critical Secondary
Mercury Tertiary
Thallium Tertiary
Molybdenum Tertiary
Copper Tertiary
Barium-Barite Critical Tertiary
Tungsten Critical Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • STIBNITE IN JASPEROID SEEMS TO BE A GOOD INDICATOR OF HIGH GRADE GOLD. VERY LIMITED MICROPROBE DATA SUGGEST THAT AU MAY BE IN SOLID SOLUTION IN PYRITE. AU AND/OR AU-AG TELLURIDES MAY BE PRESENT. OVERALL AG:AU RATIO IS APPROX. 5:1. RARE CHALCOPYRITE AND SCHEELITE.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Barite Ore
Boulangerite Ore
Calcite Ore
Chalcedony Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Freibergite Ore
Galena Ore
Hematite Ore
Jasper Ore
Kaolinite Ore
Limonite Ore
Marcasite Ore
Miargyrite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Quartz Ore
Realgar Ore
Sericite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Stibnite Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) Argillization, Decalcification, Silicification, Carbonaceous Alteration, Propylitization. Stearns (1982) Proposes 3 Separate Pulses Of Hydrothermal Alteration Within The Santa Fe Fault Zone. These Events Are 1) Early Quartz-Sericite-Kaolinite Alternation Known As "White Breccia Clasts", 2) Main Stage Carbonaceous, Jasperoid, And Stockwork Veining, And 3) Late Stage Hydrothermal Leaching. Au-Ag Deposition Is Associated With The Second (Main) Event. Jasperoids Are Commonly Very Pyritic.

Analytical data

Result TWO DIFFERENT METAL ASSOCIATIONS ARE RECOGNIZED. THE STRUCTURALLY CONTROLLED JASPEROIDS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY VERY HIGH SB AND RELATIVELY LOW AS, AG, AND BASE METALS. HYDROTHERMAL BRECCIAS TEND TO HAVE AS>SB, AG:AU IN EXCESS OF 10:1, AND COMMONLY VERY HIGH BASE METALS, PARTICULARLY PB. OTHER ELEMENTS WHICH ARE HIGH IN BOTH ORE TYPES ARE TL AND HG
Result MO IS SOMEWHAT ENRICHED AS WELL.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 172
USGS model code 26a
Deposit model name Carbonate-hosted Au-Ag
Mark3 model number 15

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyodacite
    Rock unit name Todd Mountain Stock;Mickey Pass Tuff;;
    Rock description Todd Mountain Stock;Mickey Pass Tuff;;
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Triassic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Triassic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock unit name Luning
    Rock description Luning

Nearby scientific data

(1) -118.14345, 38.59436
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Walker Lane
Type of structure Local
Structure description The Santa Fe Fault Forms The Contact Between The Luning Formation And Mickey Pass Tuff And Consists Of A Breccia Zone Up To 125 Meters Wide.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR
    Strike N30-40W
    Dip 45-70 NE, LOCALLY FLATTENING, WITH DEPTH
    Plunge direction 75-80 NE
    Thickness 91.44M
    Length 335.28M
    Width 36.58M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • The Santa Fe Fault Zone Controls Both Hydrothermal Alteration And Au-Ag Deposition. Au Mineralization Is Entirely Hosted By The Triassic Luning Formation Along The Santa Fe Fault At Its Intersection With The Calvada Fault. All The Significant Gold Concentrations Occur Where The Luning Has Been Fractured Along The Trends Of The Main Faults. Mineralization Is Associated With Either Jasperoid Or Breccia Zones Of Various Kinds.

Comments on the geologic information

  • MIOCENE 19.5 0.6 MA? K-AR DATE IN REPLACEMENT ALUNITE IN GUILD MINE MEMBER OF MICKEY PASS TUFF, 5 MILES NE OF SANTA FE MINE. THE RELEVANCE OF THIS DATE TO THE SANTA FE MINE IS QUESTIONED BY ALBINO (1992).

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Both
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Discovery year 1962
Discoverer G.B. Gaylord
Year of first production 1988
Production years 1988-PRESENT (2/92)

Mining district

District name Santa Fe District

Land status

Ownership category BLM Administrative Area

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner International Corona Corp.,
    Home office P.O. Box 3220, Hawthorne, Nv 89415

Production statistics

  • Year 1988
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 0.29 Opt Ag
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Silver Silver 8g/mt
  • Year 1988
    Material ORE-AU, AG
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.03 Opt Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 1wt-pct
  • Year 1989
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.035 Opt Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 1g/mt
  • Year 1989
    Material AG
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 0.17 Opt Ag
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Silver Silver 5g/mt
  • Year 1990
    Material AG
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.034 Opt Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 1g/mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.988 g/mt Gold Major 1991

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Overall depth 42.67M
    Overall length 609.6M
    Overall width 152.4M

Comments on the workings information

  • OPEN PIT/HEAP LEACH OPERATION. FIGURES ARE FOR PIT DEVELOPED TO 5860 FT. LEVEL (140 FT. DEEP) AS OF JUNE 1990.

Comments on development

  • THE CLAIMS WERE FIRST STAKED BY G.B. GAYLORD IN THE EARLY 1960'S. CORDERO MINING CO. COMPLETED A GEOLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL SAMPLING PROGRAM IN THE EARLY 1960'S. CALLAHAN MINING COMPLETED A 3300 FT. EM SURVEY IN 1968. THE PROPERTY WAS OPTIONED TO BELL MOUNTAIN SILVER MINES IN 1971, AND TWO DIAMOND DRILL HOLES WERE COMPLETED. IN 1973, THE PROPERTY WAS OPTIONED TO WESTLEY MINES, LTD., WHO OPTIONED THE PROPERTY TO BETHLEHEM MINES IN 1974. BETHLEHEM COPPER COMPLETED AN EXTENSIVE EXPLORATION PROGRAM. IN 1978, INCO OPTIONED THE PROPERTY FROM WESTLEY AND DRILLED ONE HOLE. IN 1979, VENTURES WEST MINERAL LTD. OPTIONED THE PROPERTY FROM WESTLEY. VENTURES WEST MINERAL LTD. PURCHASED WESTLEY MINES LTD. IN 1981. CORONA'S INVOLVEMENT AT SANTA FE DATES FROM OCTOBER 1983, WHEN LACANA GOLD INC., ONE OF CORONA'S PREDECESSOR COMPANIES, ENTERED INTO A JV AGREEMENT WITH WESTLEY AND BRICAN RESOURCES TO EXPLORE THE PROPERTY. A FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS COMPLETED IN LATE 1985, WHICH DID NOT LEAD TO A
  • PRODUCTION DECISION. IN MID-1986, LACANA PURCHASED WESTLEY'S AND BRICAN'S INTERESTS. FURTHER DRILLING AND METALLURGICAL STUDIES BY LACANA WERE INCORPORATED INTO A NEW FEASIBILITY STUDY WHICH LED TO A PRODUCTION DECISION IN DECEMBER 1987. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 1988 AND THE FIRST GOLD WAS POURED AUGUST 18, 1988. ; ECON.COM: CASH OPERATING COSTS PER EQUIVALENT OUNCE OF GOLD WERE $314 IN 1988, $271 IN 1989, AND $320 IN 1990. MINE CAPITAL COSTS OF $10.5 MILLION. BRICAN RESOURCES LTD. AND WESTLEY MINES LTD. RETAIN ROYALTY INTERESTS OF 1.23% AND 5.33% RESPECTIVELY. EURO-NEVADA MINING CORPORATION LTD. HOLDS A 1.5% NET SMELTER ROYALTY.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    FINNACA, MIKE, 1987, GSN BULK MINEABLE PRECIOUS METALS SYMPOSIUM FIELD TRIP GUIDEBOOK AND TECHNICAL VOLUME AND GSN 1986 FALL FIELD TRIP GUIDEBOOK.

  • Deposit

    BONHAM, H.F., 1988, NBMG MI-1987.

  • Deposit

    BONHAM, H.F., 1986, NBMG MAP 91.

  • Deposit

    NBMG MINING DISTRICT FILE #207, PRESS CLIPPINGS.

  • Deposit

    STEARNS, S.W., 1982, DISSEMINATED EPITHERMAL PRECIOUS METALS IN THE SANTA FE DISTRICT, MINERAL COUNTY, NV: MS THESIS, STANFORD UNIV.

  • Deposit

    ALBINO, G.V., GILES, D.A., JANNEY, D.W., KURRASCH, D., 1990, GEOLOGY OF THE SANTA FE GOLD DEPOSIT, MINERAL COUNTY, NEVADA, IN BUFFA, R.H., AND COYNER, A.R., EDS., GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE GREAT BASIN - FIELD TRIP GUIDEBOOK COMPENDIUM, THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEVADA, RENO, P. 494-502

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL/MONTAGU MINING FINANCE, 8/10/91, MINING DATA BASE.

  • Deposit

    LOWE, N.T., ET AL, PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS OF STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MINERALS IN NEVADA, USBM INFORMATION CIRCULAR 9035, P. 164.

  • Deposit

    NBMG, 1994, MI-1993

  • Deposit

    CORONA CORP, 1989

  • Deposit

    NEVADA DIVISION OF MINERALS, 1994

  • Production

    MINING JOURNAL/MONTAGU MINING FINANCE, 8/10/91, MINING DATA BASE. NBMG MI-1993

  • Reserve-Resource

    NBMG MI-1993

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit STRIKE AND DIP ARE FOR THE BRECCIA ASSOCIATED WITH THE SANTA FE FAULT ZONE. PLUNGE IS FOR THE MAIN JASPEROID WHICH FORMS A PIPE-LIKE BODY APPROX. 120 METERS IN DIAMETER WITHIN THE SANTA FE FAULT ZONE. LOW GRADE AU/AG MINERALIZATION OCCURS IN SHEETED AND PIPE-LIKE OREBODIES WITHIN A 50 TO 400 FT. WIDE, STEEPLY DIPPING FAULT BRECCIA IN CARBONATE ROCKS. SULFIDE MINERALIZATION PRESENT IN VOLCANICS AT 300 FT. DEPTH, BUT NOT CONSIDERED RESERVES. SEE FINNACA (1987) OR STEARNS (1982) FOR PARAGENESIS.
Deposit Discovery Year: EARLY 1960'S

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-NOV-1988 La Pointe, D.D. (Tingley, J.V.) Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Updater 01-AUG-1990 Marcus, Susan U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-FEB-1992 Phinisey, J. D. (Marcus, S.) U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-SEP-1994 Li, Zhiping (Moyer, Lorre A.) U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative Nevada resources

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